CHAPTER XX.--DEER FORESTS AND GROUSE SHOOTING.

The red deer--Free to roam--Antiquity of--Formerly scarce--Meaning of "forested"--List of deer forests--Estimated yield and stock--Stag season--A "royal"--Best heads--Hinds--Deer-stalking--Great caution required--Staghounds not much used now--Quotation from John Taylor, the "Water-Poet"--Present system of letting deer forests--Colonel Inge in Gairloch--Misconceptions with regard to deer forests--Opinions of the Crofters Commission--Depopulation not due to deer forests--Deer forests not suitable for occupation by crofters--Loss of mutton and wool insignificant--Depredations by deer on crofters' crops easily remedied--Deterioration of pasture by deer not proved--Demoralization of gillies not due to forests--Summary of opinions--Substantial benefits conferred by deer forests--Afford employment to a greater extent than sheep farms--Recommendation by Commissioners--Grouse shooting--Grouse not abundant--Disease infrequent--Late birds--Mixed bags--Separate grouse shootings 372

LIST OF BOOKS AND MSS. QUOTED OR REFERRED TO 381

STATEMENT OF AUTHORITIES FOR TRADITIONS, &C., EMBODIED IN THIS BOOK 383

TABLES.

I. Mountains of Gairloch 387

II. Distances 387

III. Population of Gairloch 390

IV. Ministers of the parish of Gairloch 390

V. Lairds of Gairloch 391

APPENDICES.

A. Genealogical Account of the MacRas, by Rev. John Macrae, who died 1704 395

B. Tour in Scotland by Thomas Pennant in 1772 396

C. Old Statistical Account of Scotland, 1792 399

D. Dr MacCulloch's Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland, 1811 to 1821 400

E. New Statistical Account of Scotland, 1836 403

F. Records of the Presbytery of Dingwall 408

G. Records and Extracts relating to Sir George Hay and the Manufacture of Iron 412

H. Addenda on St Maelrubha, and Ecclesiastical History 415

Glossary of Gaelic Names and Words.

The pronunciation is given approximately in parentheses. In many cases no combination of letters pronounced in English fashion can accurately represent the Gaelic pronunciation.

The pronunciation of _ch_ is almost the same in Gaelic as in German. Sometimes the _ch_ is best rendered as an aspirate only, the _c_ being treated as if silent.

The letter _c_, unless followed by _h_, is always pronounced in Gaelic like the English _k_, a letter not found in Gaelic.

The Gaelic pronunciation of the letters _b_, _d_, and _g_ is soft, and they are often sounded more as if they were _p_, _t_, and _k_.

In Ross-shire Gaelic _sr_ is pronounced as if it were _str_, and _rt_ as if it were _rst_.

The consonant _d_ before the vowels _e_ and _i_, whether followed by another vowel or not, is pronounced as if it were _j_.

The consonant _s_ before the vowels _i_ or _e_ is sounded as _sh_.

The consonant _l_ has a liquid double sound, unlike anything in English; it may be approximated by lisping the vowel _u_ before and the letter _y_ after the ordinary sound of the letter _l_.

The letter _h_ after the consonants _d_, _f_, _g_, _t_, and _s_, in Ross-shire Gaelic, renders those consonants silent; _bh_ and _mh_ are usually pronounced like _v_, a letter not found in the Gaelic alphabet. Sometimes _adh_ seems to be pronounced very like _ag_.

The possessive case is frequently formed in Gaelic by the insertion of the letter _h_ after the initial consonant, and of the letter _i_ after the vowel in the first or second syllable.

The aspirate _h_ is often inserted between the definite article and a noun beginning with a vowel. Sometimes the letter _t_ is similarly inserted before a noun commencing with a consonant. These, and some other changes, are made for the sake of euphony.

The vowel sounds can only be defined with difficulty. The attempts made in this glossary are but imperfect. It may be stated that _ach_ is generally pronounced _och_; _ao_ and _u_, as _oo_; _ea_, as _a_ in "bake"; _a_, _e_, and _i_, usually as in French; _ei_, sometimes as _a_ in "bake," and sometimes as _i_ in "bin"; and _ai_ is sometimes almost like _u_ in "dull," and sometimes like _a_ in "tan."

Anyone desiring to pronounce a Gaelic name or word correctly, should ask a native to render it, and try to imitate him; even then, in some cases, it will be impossible to be exactly right.

_A cheardach ruadh_ (ar charstock rooer), The red smithy. _Ceardach_, a smithy; _ruadh_, red.

_A Mhaighdean_ (ar veytchen), The maiden. See _Maighdean_.

_Achagarbh_, properly spelt _Achadhgarbh_ (ach a garrav), Rough field. _Ach_, a field; _garbh_, rough.

_Achagarve._ See _Achagarbh_.

_Achdistall_, or _Achdiestal_ (achjestel), Field of Diestal. _Ach_, a field; _Diestal_, a Norse word, probably the name of a rock.

_Achnasheen_ (achnasheen), Field of storms. _Ach_, or _achadh_, a field; _sian_ (shee-on), means wind and rain combined, _i.e._, a rainstorm. _Sian dubh_ (black storm) is so-called in contradistinction to a snowstorm, which is designated _cur is cathadh_. An old Kintail priest long ago prophesied that this country would be brought to nought by _Sian dubh_, and that the people would have to go away to islands at the other side of the world.

_Achtercairn_, properly _Achadhacharn_ (achterkairn), Field of the cairn. _Ach_, or achadh, a field; _carn_, a heap of stones.

_Aigeascaig_ (aigaskaik). Name of place, meaning unknown. Colonel Robertson says _Aigeas_ is a corruption of _aiguisg_, by reason of the water. The termination _aig_ signifies a small bay; it was originally Danish.

_Aird_ (aird), a height, a promontory or headland.

_Aird na h' eigheamh_ (art na heyhugh), eight of calling. _Aird_, a height; _eigh_, to call.

_Airdheslaig_ (artishlak). Supposed to be a Norse name. _Aird_, a height; _heslaig_ may be for _h'aslaich_, _aslaich_, to entreat; _aslachadh_, entreaty.

_Alastair Breac_ (allaster brake), Alexander the spotted. _Alastair_, Alexander; _breac_, spotted, or more correctly pock-marked. See _Breac_.

_Alastair Buidhe Mackay_, properly MacAoidh (allaster boo-ie mackai), Yellow Alexander Mackay. _MacAoidh_ is pronounced Macooie.

_Alastair Buidhe MacIamhair_ (allaster boo-ie makeemver), Yellow-haired Alexander MacIver; pronounced MakEever.

_Alastair Liath_ (allaster leear), Grey-headed Alexander. _Liath_, grey, grey-headed. It means light blue when not applied to a human being.

_Alastair MacIain Mhic Earchair_ (allaster makeeanvic erraquhar), Alexander, son of John, son of Farquhar. _Earchair_ is incorrectly written for _Fhearchair_, the possessive of _Farquhar_; _Fhearchair_ is pronounced Erraquhar or Earchair.

_Alastair Mor an t' Sealgair_ (allaster more ant shollager), Big Alexander the hunter. _Sealgair_, a hunter, a stalker, literally a sneaker.

_Ali' Iain Ghlais_ (alian loss), Alexander [son] of Pale John. From _Alie_ (short for _Alastair_), Alexander; _Iain_, John; and _glas_, pale or sallow. _Glas_ means grey when not applied to human beings.

_Alie Uistean_ (ally ooshtan), Alick Hugh. _Alie_, short for Alexander. See _Uistean_.

_Allt a Choire Dhuibh Mhoir_ (arlta corrie oo-ie vore), The burn of the great black corrie. _Allt_, a burn; _choire_, possessive of _coire_, a corry; _dhuibh_, possessive of _dubh_, black; _mhoir_, possessive of _mor_, great.

_Altgreshan_, properly _Alltgrisean_ (alt-grishan), Roan or grizzly burn. _Allt_, a burn; _grisfhionn_ (grishan), grizzly.

_Am port Leathach_ (am porsht layoch), The port at half [tide]. _Leath_ is half.

_An Amilt_, or _An Amhuilt_ (ann amvilt). Name of a place; means the stratagem.

_An Fhridh dhorch_ (an ree dorroch), the dark forest. _Fridh_, forest; _dorch_, dark.

_An Groban._ See _Groban._

_An t' Eirthire Donn_. See _Eirthire Donn._

_Angus._ See _Aonghas._

_Aonghas_ (unnus), Angus, or Æneas, which last is nearer in sound to the Gaelic.

_Applecross._ English name as now used. Colonel Robertson says it is for the Gaelic _Abercroisean_, or _Abhircroisean_, from _aber_, mouth, or confluence of; _croisean_, of troubles; or perhaps _croisean_ was the name of the little river.

_Ardlair_ (ardlair), The mare's height or headland. _Aird_, a height; _lair_, a mare.

_Ath nan ceann_ (arnankown), Ford of the heads. _Ath_, a ford; _ceann_, heads. Often written _Anagown_.

_Aultbea_, should be spelt _Alltbeithe_ (arltbay), Burn of birches. _Allt_, a burn; _beath_, or _beith_, a birch.

_Bac an Leth-choin_ (bark an lechun), Shelf of the crossbred dog. _Leth-choin_, a crossbred dog, a lurcher. _Bac_ is a shelf or flat on the side or top of a hill; in this case the name is popularly applied to the whole hill.

_Bac Dubh_ (bark dhoo), Black shelf. _Bac_, a shelf or flat place among rocks or on a hill; _dubh_, black.

_Bad_ (bat), a clump, a grove.

_Bad a Chrotha_ (badachro). Full Gaelic spelling of Badachro, which see.

_Bad a mhanaich_ (bat er vannich), Grove of the monk. See _Bad_. _Mhanaich_, possessive of _manach_, a monk.

_Bad an t' Sluig_ (bat ant slook), Grove of the miry puddle. _Bad_, a grove; _sluig_, possessive of _slug_, a miry puddle.

_Badachro_ (badachro), Grove of the cruive. _Bad_, a grove; _chro_, possessive of _cro_, a cruive, a fank.

_Badfearn_, should be _Badfearna_ (batfern), Alder grove. _Fearn_, the alder tree. See _Bad_. The place has still a clump of alders.

_Badluachrach_ (bat loocharar), Rushy clump. _Luachair_, rushes.

_Baile na h' eaglais_ (bally-na-herkless), Town of the church, or Kirkton. _Baile_, a town; _eaglais_, a church. Compare _Ecclesia_.

_Ballymeon_ (bally-mey-on), properly spelt _Baile-meadhon_, pronounced exactly the same. _Baile_, a town; _meadhon_, middle. _Anglicè_, Middleton.

_Bard Mor an t' Slaggan_ (bart more ant slaggan), The great or big bard of Slaggan, which see.

_Bard Sasunnach_ (bart Sassenach), English bard. _Sasunnach_, English, i.e. not a Gaelic speaker.

_Bathais Bheinn_ (boorsh ven), Forehead mountain (very descriptive). From _Beinn_, mountain, and _bathais_, forehead; or perhaps it should be called _Baoisg Bheinn_ (boiskivin), the mountain of gleaming, because it catches the first rays of the rising sun. This is also true of this mountain.

_Beag_ (bek), little. It seems to appear as _bach_ in some English names.

_Beallach Glasleathaid_ (baaloch glass laid), Pass of the gray slope. _Beallach_, a pass; _glas_, pale; _leathaid_, possessive of _leathad_, a slope.

_Beallach nan Brog_ (baaloch nam progue), Pass of the shoes. _Brog_, a shoe.

_Beallach a Chomhla_ (baaloch a korvla), Pass of the door. _Comhladh_, a door.

_Beinn Alligin_ (bin allikin), Jewel mountain. Properly _Ailleagan_, a jewel, or darling, anything precious.

_Beinn a Chaisgean_ (bin a harshkin), Mountain of casgean; which may be a corruption of _caisg_, Easter.

_Beinn Aridh Charr_ (bin arry har), The mountain of the rough shieling. _Beinn_, a mountain; _aridh_, a shieling; _charr_, a corruption of _garbh_, rough.

_Beinn a Chearcaill_ (bin a herkill). Mountain of the hoop. _Cearcall_, a hoop. Descriptive of bands or lines of stratification encircling this hill.

_Beinn a Mhuinidh_ (bin ar voonie), Mountain of the "Pisvache."

_Beinn an Eoin_ (bin-in-eeōn), The mountain of the bird. _Beinn_, a mountain; _eoin_, possessive of _eun_, a bird. The bird in this case is the ptarmigan.

_Beinn Bheag_ (bin vek), Little mountain. _Beag_, little.

_Beinn Bhreac_ (bin y vraick), Spotted mountain. _Breac_, spotted.

_Beinn Damph_, properly _Beinn Damh_ (bin damff), Mountain of the stag. _Damh_, a stag.

_Beinn Dearg_ (bin jarrak), Red mountain. _Beinn_; and _Dearg_, red.

_Beinn Eighe_ (bin ay), File mountain. _Eighe_, a file. The topmost ridge is jagged or serrated like a file.

_Beinn Lair_ (bin lar), Mountain of the mare. _Lair_, a mare.

_Beinn Liathgach_ (bin learoch). This mountain should not be called _Beinn Liathgach_, but _Liathgach_, which see.

_Beinn na h' Eaglais_ (binnaherkless), Mountain of the church. _Beinn_, mountain; _eaglais_, church.

_Beinn nan Ramh_ (bin an rahv), Mountain of the oar. _Ramh_, an oar.

_Beinn Slioch_ or _Sleugach_ (bin sleoch). Should be _Slioch_ without _Beinn_. See _Slioch_.

_Beinn Tarsuinn_ (bin tarsing), Mountain across.

_Beinn Tarsuinn Chaol_ (bin tarsing chool), Narrow Beinn Tarsuinn. _Caol_, narrow or slender.

_Bhantighearna Ruadh_ (vancherna rooar), Red lady. _Bhantighearna_, literally she-lord.

_Bho Iutharn_, or _Bho Iuthrna_ (vo ewern), From hell. _Bho_, from; _Iuthrna_, hell.

_Bidean clann Raonaild_ (peetyan clan ruynuld), Clan Ranald's peak. _Bidean_, a peak.

_Blar na Fala_ (blar ner falla), Plain of the blood. _Blar_, a plain or bog, or flat place; _fala_, possessive of _fuil_, blood.

_Blar na Pairc_ (blar ner park), Battle of the park. _Pairc_, possessive of _parc_, a park or field.

_Bonaid donn_ (boanat down), Brown bonnet. _Bonaid_, a bonnet, a cap; _donn_, brown.

_Boor_ (bore). Either from _buradh_, a bursting forth of blood; or from a word containing the root _boor_, meaning "roaring," because stags used to roar here.

_Bothie_ (bothy, _othie_ pronounced as in frothy), a little hut or hovel. _Both_, a hut. Compare English _booth_. The _ie_ is an old Gaelic diminutive, often written _idh_.

_Braemore_, properly _Braighmor_ (bray more), Great summit or hill. _Mor_, great; _braigh_, summit.

_Breac_ (brake), spotted, marked with smallpox (when applied to human beings), a trout.

_Breacan an Fheilidh_ (brayken an aylie), the belted or kilted plaid. _Breacan_, a tartan plaid; _fheilidh_, possessive of _feileadh_, a kilt.

_Bruachaig_ (brooachak). Perhaps from _Bruach_, and _achadh_, a field; _bruach_, a bank, border, edge, steep; _aig_, means a small bay in old Danish.

_Buaile na luib_ (pool na loop), Fold of the bend. From _buaile_, a fold; and _luib_, a bend or loop.

_Buidhe_ (boo-ie), yellow-haired, yellow.

_Cabar Feidh_ (kapper fay), deer's antler. _Cabar_, antler, or a stick; _feiah_, possessive of _fiagh_, deer.

_Cabar Lar_ (kapper law), Turf parer. _Cabar_, a stick; _lar_, a floor, the ground.

_Cadha Beag_ (kaar pek), Little pass in the rock. _Beag_, little; _cadha_, a pass in a rock.

_Cailleach a Mhuillear_ (kaillyoch a vuillyear), The miller's wife. _Cailleach_, an old woman; _muillear_, miller.

_Cailleach Liath Rasaidh_ (kaillyoch leear raasa), Grey old woman of Raasay. _Cailleach_, an old woman; _liath_, grey (light blue when not applied to a human being).

_Callum a Ghlinne_ (kallum a glinnie), Malcolm of the glen. _Callum_, Malcolm.

_Carn a Ghlinne_ (karn a glinnie), Cairn of the glen. _Carn_, a cairn or heap of stones; _ghlinne_, possessive of _gleann_, a glen.

_Carn Anthony_ (karn anthony), Cairn of Anthony. _Carn_, a heap of stones.

_Carn Dearg_ (karn jarrak). Red cairn. _Carn_, a heap of stones. See _Dearg_.

_Carn Liath_ (karn leear), Light blue cairn. _Carn_, a heap of stones; _liath_, light blue.

_Cas chrom_ (kas-rhoum), foot plough; literally crooked foot, from _cas_, a foot; and _crom_, crooked.

_Cathair mhor_ (kaar more). Big seat, _i.e._ Fairies' seat. See _Kerrysdale_.

_Ceann a Chro_ (kayoun-a-chroe), End or head of the cruive. _Ceann_, end or head; _cro_, a cruive, or fank.

_Ceann a chruinn_ (kayoun a chreinie), mast head, or tree head or end. _Ceann_, a head, end; _cruinn_, possessive of _crann_, a tree or mast.

_Ceann an t' sail_ (kayoun an tarl), end or head of the salt water. _Ceann_, end or head; _sail_, salt water. Corrupted further south into Kintail.

_Ceann loch iu_ (kayoun loch ew), head of Loch Ewe. _Ceann_, a head.

_Ceardach ruadh_ (karstoch roo-er), Red smiddy. See _A cheardach ruadh_.

_Ceilidh_ (kayley), social meetings. From _ceilidh_, to visit.

_Ceistear crubach_ (kaister crupboch), lame catechist. _Ceistear_, a catechist; _crubach_, lame.

_Cibear Mor_ (keeipber more), big shepherd. _Cibear_, a shepherd; _mor_, great or big.

_Clach_ (klarch), a stone. Possessive, _Cloiche_. Compare _clough_, found in some English names.

_Clach a Mhail_ (klarch ar varl), Stone of rent. _Clach_, a stone; _Mal_, rent, tribute.

_Clach an t' Shagart_ (klarch an taggart), Stone of the priest. _Clach_, a stone; _shagart_, possessive of _sagart_, a priest.

_Clach nam Brog_ (klarch nam progue), Shoe stone. _Clach_, a stone; _brog_, a shoe.

_Clachan garbh_ (klachan garrav), Rough village. _Clachan_, a village; literally stones; supposed to have originally been a Druidical term. See _Garbh_.

_Cladh nan Sasunnach_ (klug nan sarsenach), Burial-place of the English. _Cladh_, a burial-place; _Sasunnach_, English, Saxon, not a Gaelic speaker.

_Claidheamh mor_ (klymore), a broadsword, a claymore. _Claidheamh_, a sword; _mor_, great, here broad.

_Clais na leac_ (klarsh na lyck), Hollow of the flat stones or flags. _Clais_, a furrow, a hollow between ridges or hills; _leac_, a flag.

_Claonadh_ (kluanar), slopes. Compare _inclining_.

_Clann Eachainn_ (klan erchen), offspring of Hector. _Clann_, offspring or descendants. See _Eachainn_.

_Claymore._ See _Claidheamh mor_.

_Cleireach_ (klearoch), literally clerk. Priests often called so from their scholarship. The Priest island off the Greenstone Point is called _Cleireach_ in Gaelic. Compare _Clericus_.

_Cliabh moine_ (kleea moanyer), peat creel. _Cliabh_, creel; _moine_, peats.

_Cliff_, or _Clive_ (Gaelic Clu). See _Meall na Cluibha_.

_Clu_ (kloo), a local name; now treated as synonymous with English _cliff_. See _Meall na Cluibha_.

_Cnoc a chrochadair_ (kroka chrochater), Hangman's hill. _Cnoc_, a hill, a hillock; _chrochadair_, possessive of _crochadair_, a hangman.

_Cnoc a croiche_ (krok a chroich), Gallows hill. _Croich_, a gallows.

_Cnoc na mi-chomhairle_ (krok na mee ho-airlie), Hillock of evil counsel. _Cnoc_, a hillock; _mi_ (like _mis-_), evil, _comhairle_, counsel. _Mi_ is also a negative prefix like _un-_.

_Coigeach_ (ko-yoch), probably the "fifth portion" [of a davach]. _Coig_, five.

_Coille Aigeascaig_ (kul yaikaskaik); Wood of Aigeascaig. _Coille_, a wood; see _Aigeascaig_.

_Coinneach_ (kuinyoch), Kenneth. The progenitor of the Mackenzies.

_Coinneach Mac Sheumais_ (kuinyoch mak eearmis), Kenneth the son of James. _Coinneach_, Kenneth; _Seumas_, James.

_Coinneachadh Beag_ (koonyochor bek), Little meeting-place. _Coinneachadh_, meeting-place; _beag_, little.

_Coire an Easain_ (corrie an easan), Corrie of the little waterfall. _Easan_, a little waterfall.

_Coire Cheud Cnoc_ (corrie hehud crok), Corrie of a hundred hillocks. _Coire_, a corrie; _ceud_, hundred; _cnoc_, a hillock.

_Coire Cheud Creagh_ (corrie hehud krayar), Corrie of a hundred spoils. _Coire_, corrie; _ceud_, a hundred; _creagh_, spoils. Name erroneously given by some to the Corrie of a hundred hillocks. See last name.

_Coire Dubh Mor_ (corrie dhoo more), Great black corrie (or dell).

_Coire Mhic Cromail_ (corrie vic krommle), The corrie of the son of Cromail. _Mhic_, of the son of; _Cromail_, an old name, meaning unknown.

_Coire nan Cuilean_ (corrie nan coollin), Corrie of the cubs. _Cuilean_, a cub, a pup.

_Coppachy_, properly _Copachaidh_ (koppachie), Foam field. _Cop_, foam; _achadh_, a field.

_Corcur_ (korker), red, crimson.

_Cota gearr_ (koita gaerr), short coat. _Cota_, a coat; _gearr_, short.

_Co-thional_ (ko-yearnal), gathering together. _Comh_, or _co_, fellowship (compare _company_); _tional_, gathering.

_Cove._ English name altered from cave. The Gaelic name of the place is really _An Uamhaidh_ (nouahvie), or the place of caves, from _uamh_, a cave. But it is more properly called _An Uamh Mhor_, or the great cave, a name descriptive of the cave still used as a place of worship.

_Cradh Gheadh_ (crargeear), Shieldrake. _Geag_, a goose.

_Craig_ (kraik), a crag or rock; properly spelt _creig_, or _creag_.

_Craig a Chait_ (kraig a hart), Rock of the cat. _Chait_, possessive of _cat_, which is the same in Gaelic as in English, but was originally applied only to the wild cat.

_Craig an Dubh Loch_ (kraigan dhoo-loch), Rock of the black loch.

_Craig an Fhithich_ (kraig an eech), Crag of the raven. _Fhithich_, possessive of _fitheach_, a raven.

_Craig an Fhithich Mhor_ (kraig an eech vore), Big crag of the raven.

_Craig an t' Shabhail_ (kraig an towl), Rock of the barn. _Sabhal_, a barn.

_Craig Bhadain an Aisc_ (kraik vatn an ashk), Rock of the clumps or groves of burial. _Badan_, clumps or groves; _aisc_, obsolete word, meaning burial or interment, or preparation for burial.

_Craig Bhan_ (kraig varn), White crag. _Ban_, white; and see _Craig_.

_Craig Roy._ Properly _Craig Ruadh_, which see.

_Craig Ruadh_ (kraik roo-er), Red crag. See _Craig_ and _Ruadh_.

_Craig Thairbh_ (kraik-harve), Bull rock. _Tarbh_, a bull.

_Craig Tollie_ (kraig tollie), properly _Creag Thollie_ (kraig holly), Rock of Tollie. See _Tollie_.

_Crannag_ (crannog). A crannog, or insulated fortress, usually constructed on piles in a loch; the same word as _crannag_, a pulpit.

_Crasg_ (krask). Meaning uncertain, possibly something that lies across. _Crasg_ is the top of a spade, or cross piece of a crutch. _Crasgach_ is something that goes contrary.

_Creagan an Inver_ (kraigan an innyr), Little rock of the mouth of the river. _Inver_, mouth of a river.

_Cromasaig_, properly spelt _Crom Fhasadh_ (krommasak), Crooked hollow. _Crom_, crooked; _fhasadh_, possessive of _fasadh_, a hollow.

_Crubach_ (kruboch), lame of a leg. Compare _cripple_.

_Cruitear_, or _Cruitire_ (kroo-iter), a musician, a harper.

_Cuairtear nan Gleann_ (kooairter nan gleyoun), Pilgrim of the glens. _Cuairtear_, a pilgrim; _gleann_, glens.

_Cu-dubh_ (koo dhoo), black dog. _Cu_, a dog.

_Cuil an Scardain_ (kool an scarten), Corner of the screes. _Cuil_, a corner, a nook; _sgardan_, screes. The name is very descriptive.

_Cuilchonich_ (kulhoanie), Mossy corner. _Coinneach_, green moss; _cuil_, a corner.

_Culinellan_, properly _Cul an eilean_ (koolineylen), Back of the island. _Cul_, back of; _eilean_, an island.

_Cumha Thighearna Ghearrloch_ (koovtcheerna yairloch), Lament of or for the laird of Gairloch. _Cumha_, lament. See _Tighearna_.

_Dal Cruaidh_ (dal crewie), hard field or flat. _Dal_, a flat field; _cruaidh_, hard.

_Darach_ (darroch), an oak.

_Dearg_ (jarrak), red, like a rose.

_Diabaig_ (teapik). Norse name, meaning unknown; possibly connected with _Dia_, God; _aig_, a small bay, so that it may mean the small bay of God. Perhaps this has reference to religious rites imported from the neighbouring monastery of Applecross. _Diabaig_ is spelt _Typack_ on the map of 1662.

_Doire_ (derry), a grove.

_Domhnull Dubh_ (donnullul dhoo), Black Donald. _Domhnull_, Donald; _dubh_, black.

_Domhnull Gorm_ (donnullul gorrum), Blue Donald. _Gorm_, blue.

_Domhnull Greannach_ (donnullul gruonnoch), Sour or savage-looking Donald. _Greannach_ also means irascible.

_Domhnull M'Eaine Roy Vic Choinnich_, should be _Domhnull Mac Iain Ruadh Mhic Choinnich_ (donald mak eean ruar vick kuinyoch), Donald son of John Roy (red John) son of Kenneth. _Mac_, son of; _Mhic_ (or _Vic_), possessive of _Mac_.

_Domhnull Mor_ (donnullul more), Big Donald. _Domhnull_, Donald; _mor_, big.

_Domhnull Odhar MacIain Leith_ (donnullul our mak yan lay), Sallow or dun Donald son of Iain Liath or grey-haired John. _Odhar_ also means drab. _Leith_, possessive of _Liath_, grey.

_Donald._ See _Domhnull Dubh, &c._ Donald is often written in these pages instead of its Gaelic spelling.

_Donn_ (down), brown, bay, or sable. Compare _dun_.

_Donnachadh Mor na Tuaighe_ (donnochar mor na tew-ay), Big Duncan of the axe. _Donnachadh_, Duncan; _mor_, big; _tuagh_, an axe.

_Donnachadh na Fadach_ (dunochar na fardoch), Duncan Fadach. _Donnachadh_, Duncan; _Fadach_, name of the farm he had in Kintail before he came to Inveran.

_Druim a Chait_ (dream a-hart), Ridge of the cat. _Druim_, a ridge; _chait_, possessive of cat.

_Druim Carn Neill_ (dream karneyal), Ridge of the cairn of Neil. _Druim_, or _droim_, a ridge or keel.

_Drumchork_, properly _Druim a choirc_ (drum-a-hawk), Ridge of corn, or oats. _Druim_, a ridge; _coirce_, oats, corn.

_Dubh_ (dhoo), black.

_Dubh Loch_ (dhoo-loch), Black loch.

_Dun_ (doon), a castle; _Dunan_ (doonan), a small castle.

_Dun Naast_ (doonarst), Castle of Naast. See _Naast_.

_Eachainn_ (erchen), Hector. Hector is considered the English equivalent, though it is not a translation of this Gaelic name.

_Eachainn Geal_ (erchen gayal), White Hector. See _Eachainn_ and _Geal_.

_Eachainn Ruadh_ (erchen roo-er), Hector Roy. Hector is considered the English equivalent for _Eachainn_; and see _Ruadh_.

_Eilean_ (eylan), an island, isle.

_Eileanach_ (eylanoch), Island of the field. _Eilean_, isle; _ach_, or _achadh_, or _achaidh_, a field. Perhaps it would be more accurately translated The place of islands.

_Eileandonain_ (eylan donnan), Island Donain. _Donain_, name of a saint, probably short for _Donnachadh_, or Duncan.

_Eilean a Mhor Righ_ (eylan a vor ree), Island of the great king. An erroneous suggestion of the origin of the name Maree.

_Eilean Dubh na Sroine_ (eylan dhoo na stronyer), Black island of the nose or promontory. _Dubh_, black; _sron_ (stron), a nose or promontory.

_Eilean Grudidh_ (eylan gruydgie), Island Grudie. See _Eilean_ and _Grudidh_.

_Eilean Horisdale_ (eylan horrisdel), properly _Eilean Thorisdal_, the island of Thorsdale, a Norse name, which see.

_Eilean Maree_ (eylan maree), Isle Maree. See _St Maelrubha_.

_Eilean na h' Iolaire_ (eylan nar hewlar-yer), Island of the eagle. _Iolaire_, an eagle.

_Eilean Ruaridh Beag_ (eylan rooarie vek), Little island of Rorie or Roderick. _Beag_, little.

_Eilean Ruaridh Mor_ (eylan ruorie mor), Big island of Rorie. _Mor_, big.

_Eilean Suainne_ (eylan soo-in), Everlasting isle. _Suainne_, everlasting.

_Eirthire Donn_ (erriyer down), Brown shore. _Eirthira_, shore; _donn_, brown.

_Erradale_ (erradale). Norse; probably from _earr_, a boundary, the edge of.

_Ewan McGabhar_, properly _Eoghan Mac Gabhar_ (ewen mak gower), Ewan son of the goat. _Gabhar_, a she-goat.

_Ewe_ (ew). May be a corruption from _uisge_ (usque), water. Compare similar Welsh root _gwy_, water, as in Wye.

_Faidhir Mor_ (fire more), Great market. _Faidhir_, a fair or market; _mor_, great or big.

_Failte Uilleam Dhuibh_ (falt yllyam oo-ey), Black William's salute. _Failte_, a salute; _Uilleam_, William; _dhuibh_, possessive of _dubh_, black.

_Fannich_, properly _Fanaich_ (fannich). Meaning unknown.

_Faoileag_ (fewlak), a sea-gull, name for a dog.

_Farquhar_ (properly _Fearchar_) _Buidhe_ (farkar boo-ie), Yellow-haired Farquhar. See _Buidhe_.

_Fasagh_ (fassoch). From _Fasadh_ (pronounced fassoch), meaning a hollow.

_Fe Leoid_, properly _Feith Leoid_ (fay lee-oade), The bog of Leod (Loud). _Feith_, a bog; _Leoid_, possessive of _Leod_, a Norse Christian name.

_Feachaisgean_, properly _Feith Chaisgean_ (fay harshkin), Bog of Casgean. See _Beinn a Chaisgean_.

_Feadag-chuirn_ (fettak hee-oorn), Cairn plover. Gaelic name of the dotteril. _Feadag_, a plover; _chuirn_, possessive of _carn_, a cairn.

_Fear_, _Feur_, _Feir_, or _Fiar loch_ (fear loch), sedgy loch. _Feur_, possessive _feoir_ (feyoar), sedge, reedy grass.

_Fear Shieldaig_ (fear shieldak), The goodman of Shieldaig. _Fear_ means a man, a goodman.

_Fedan Mor_ (fettan more), Big gullie. _Fead_ (fet), a whistle; _feadan_, a little whistle or whistling thing (applied to a gully because the wind whistles through it). _Feadag_, the feminine diminutive of _fead_, is the name given to the golden plover on account of its piping.

_Feileadh-beag_ (faylabek), philabeg, or kilt; literally little kilt, _i.e._ the kilt made up separately as distinguished from the _Breacan an Fheilidh_, the belted or kilted plaid.

_Feill Iudha_ (fail you-her), Ewe market. _Feill_, a market; _Iudha_, possessive of _Iu_, Ewe.

_Feir loch._ See _Fear loch_.

_Feith an Leothaid._ Same as _Fe-Leoid_, which see. This is the more correct spelling.

_Feith Mhic Iain Dhuibh_ (fay vik an ooie), The bog of Black John's son. _Feith_, a bog. See _Mac Iain Dhuibh_.

_Feithean Mor_, properly _Na feithean mor_ (fain more), The great morasses. _Feith_ (pl. _feithean_), a morass, a bog.

_Feur loch._ See _Fear loch_.

_Fiaclachan_ (feearclochon), little toothed things. Diminutive of _fiaclach_, toothed or jagged, _i.e._ the little jagged rock; very descriptive.

_Fiar loch._ See _Fear loch_.

_Fionn Loch_ (fee-un-loch), Fingal's loch, or The white loch. It is called Loch Finn on the map of 1662. _Fionn_ means white, pale, or wan. It is said the Fingalians were called the white men in contradistinction to the Dugals or black men.

_Fionnla Dubh MacGillechriosd_ (feeounla dhoo mak gillie chree-est), Black Finlay, son of the servant of Christ. See _MacGillechriosd_.

_Fionnla Dubh na Saighead_ (feeounla dhoo na side), Black Finlay of the arrow. _Saighead_, an arrow.

_Fionnla Liath_ (feeounla leear), Grey Finlay. _Liath_, grey.

_Firemore._ See _Faidhir mor_.

_Foura_ (foora), an island at the mouth of Loch Ewe. The name includes the Norwegian suffix "a," meaning an island. _Fuar_ (four) is Gaelic for cold.

_Fraoch-eilean_ (frooch-eylan), Heather isle. _Fraoch_, heather.

_Fuirneis_ (furniss), Furnace. This name was most likely originated here by iron-workers from Furness in Lancashire. Furness, according to Rev. Isaac Taylor, may be Fireness, the "fire isle," or "Fore-ness." Ness is Norse for a nose or headland.

_Gael_ (gale), properly _Gaidheal_ (gai-al), a Highlander, a Gael.

_Gaelic_ (gallik), properly _Gaidhealach_ (gai-alloch), Highland.

_Gairloch_ (garloch), Short loch. Originally, and more correctly, spelt _Gearrloch_ or _Gerloch_. _Gearr_, short. It is always spelt _Gearrloch_ in Gaelic.

_Garadh Iaruinn_ (gaarogh eerun), Iron dyke. _Garradh_, a dyke, a fence wall; _iaruinn_, iron.

_Garavaig_, properly _Garbhaig_ (garavaik), name of a small river or burn. The termination "aig" is said to be old Danish, and means a small bay, but the prefix is probably from _garbh_, rough.

_Garbh_ (garav, or garve), rough.

_Garbh Choire_ (garav chorrie), Rough corrie.

_Garbh eilean_ (garaveylan), Rough island. _Garbh_, rough.

_Geal_ (gayal), white, bright.

_Gille_ (gillie), a lad, a young man, a gillie, a servant.

_Gille Buidhe_ (gillie boo-ie), Yellow, or yellow-haired gillie. See _Gille_.

_Gille Cailean Mor_ (gilly callain more), The lad big Colin. See separate words.

_Gille Dubh_ (gillie dhoo), Black, or black-haired lad.

_Gille Riabhach_ (gillie ree-oach), Brindled lad. _Riabhach_, brindled.

_Gillean_ (gillyon), lads. Plural of _Gille_, which see.

_Gillean an t' Sealgair_ (gillyon ant shallager), the hunter's lads. _Gillean_, lads, or young men; _sealgair_, a hunter.

_Gillespic_ (gill-yespik), servant of the bishop. _Gille_, servant; _easbuig_ (espik), bishop. Compare _Episcopus_.

_Glac Mhic Iain Dhuibh_ (glark vik an oo-ie), Hollow or dell of the son of Black John. _Glac_, a hollow or dell; _Mhic_, possessive of _Mac_, the son of; _dhuibh_, possessive of _dubh_, black.

_Glac na Sguithar_ (glark nar skither), Hollow of Sguithar. An old name; meaning now lost.

_Glas_ (glosh), grey. When applied to a man it means that he is pale or sallow, never grey-haired.

_Glas eilean_ (glosh-eylan), Grey island. _Glas_, grey; _eilean_, an island.

_Glas Leitire_ (glosh laytcher), Grey slope. See _Glas_ and _Leitir_.

_Glen_, properly _Gleann_ (glen or gloun), a valley, a dale.

_Glen a Bianasdail_ (gloun ar beeanarstle), Glen of skin field or dale, or _thal_. _Bian_, a wild animal's skin.

_Glen Cruaidh Choillie_ (glen or gloun cruchollie). May perhaps be the hardwood glen. _Cruid_, hard; _coille_, wood.

_Glen Dochartie_, properly _Gleann Dochartidh_ (gloun dochartie). _Dochart_, or _Dochartie_, is believed to have been the name of a man.

_Glen na Muic_ (gloun na mook). _Muic_, possessive of _muc_, a pig.

_Gobha dubh an uisge_ (gow dhoo an uisk), Blacksmith of the water. _Gobha_, a smith; _dubh_, black; _uisge_, water.

_Gorm_ (gorrum), blue.

_Groban_ (groben). Probably a grooved rock, from _grobadh_, to groove.

_Grudidh_, more correctly _Gruididh_ (gruydyie). Possibly from _gruid_, dregs; because the dregs and sediment of several burns drain into the Grudidh river.

_Gruinard_, in Gaelic _Gruinaird_ (grinyard). Meaning unknown; may be from _grian_, the sun, and _aird_, a height. It used to be sometimes spelt _Greinord_; may be Norse.

_Hector Roy._ English rendering of _Eachainn Ruadh_, which see. No Gaelic word begins with _H_.

_Heglis Gherloch_, for _Eaglais Ghearrloch_ (erkless yairloch), Church of Gairloch. _Eaglais_, a church.

_Heglis Loch Ew_, for _Eaglais Loch Iu_ (erkless loch ew), Church of Loch Ewe.

_Horisdale._ See _Eilean Horisdale_.

_Iain Buidhe_ (eean boo-ie), Yellow, or yellow-haired John. _Iain_, John. See _Buidhe_.

_Iain Buidhe Taillear_ (eean boo-ie tyler), Yellow-haired John the tailor. _Taillear_, a tailor.

_Iain Caol_ (eean cool), Slender John. _Caol_, slender.

_Iain Dall_ (eean toul), Blind John. _Dall_, blind.

_Iain Dubh Mac Ruaridh_ (eean dhoo mak rooarie), Black John, son of Rorie or Roderick. See separate words.

_Iain Geal Donn_ (eean gel town), Whitey-brown John. _Geal_, white; _Donn_, brown.

_Iain Gearr_ (eean garr), Short John. _Gearr_, short.

_Iain Gearr Mac Mhurchaidh Mhic Iain_ (eean garr mak muroochie vic yan), Short John, son of Murdo, son of John.

_Iain Glassich_ (eean glassoch), John of [Strath] Glass.

_Iain Liath_ (eean leear), Grey John. _Liath_, grey.

_Iain MacAllan Mhic Ruaridh_ (eean mak allan vik rooarie), John, son of Allan, son of Rorie. See separate words.

_Iain Mac Coinnich Mhic Eachainn_ (eean mak kunyich vik erchen), John, son of Kenneth, son of Hector.

_Iain Mac Eachainn Chaoil_ (eean mak erchen chooil), John, son of slender Hector. _Chaoil_, possessive of _caol_, slender.

_Iain Mac Ghille Challum_ (eean mak illie challum), John, son of the lad Malcolm. See _Mac Ghille Challum_.

_Iain Mac Iain Uidhir_ (eean mak an eer), John, the son of dun John. _Uidhir_ is the possessive of _odhar_, dun.

_Iain Mor am Post_ (eean more am post, pronounced like cost), Big John the post.

_Iain Odhar Mac Iain Leith_ (eean our mak an lay), Dun John, son of Grey John. _Odhar_, dun; _liath_, grey.

_Iain Ruadh_ (eean ruor, or ruag), John Roy, or Red John.

_Innis a Bhaird_ (ish y vard), Oasis (or "clearing") of the bard. _Innis_, an island, or green oasis in a brown heathery region; _bhaird_, possessive of _bard_.

_Innis Ghlas_ (inch gloss), The grey oasis. See _Innis a Bhaird_. _Glas_, grey.

_Inveran_, in Gaelic _Inbhiran_ (in youren). _Inbhiran_ is the diminutive of _Inbhir_ (inver), an estuary, or mouth of. Inveran therefore means the little estuary. It takes this name from the small estuary formed where the little river from Kernsary enters Loch Maree.

_Inverasdale_, should be spelt _Inbhirasdal_ (in-ur-astle), Mouth of the river Asdaile. Called _Ashfidill_, _Aspedell_, or _Absdill_ in old documents.

_Inverewe_, Anglicé for _Inbhiriu_ (in yer ew), The mouth of the Ewe. _Inver_ (Gallice _Inbhir_), mouth of a river.

_Judha._ See _Feill Iudha_. There is no word beginning with _J_ in Gaelic.

_Kenlochewe_ (kinloch ew). See _Ceann loch iu_. The letter _k_ does not occur in true Gaelic.

_Kenneth._ English form of _Coinneach_, which see.

_Kernsary_, spelt in Gaelic _Cearnsair_. A corruption, probably from _carn_, a cairn; _aridh_, a shieling.

_Kerry_, properly spelt _Cearridh_. Meaning unknown; may be connected with _cearr_, left, or wrong.

_Kerrysdale._ A modern English name; in Gaelic it is called _Cathair Bheag_, or the little seat or green knoll on which the fairies used to sit. Compare similar word in Welsh, as in _Cader Idris_. _Bheag_ is possessive of _beag_, little.

_Kintail._ See _Ceann an t' sail_.

_Laide_ (laide), a slope. From _leathad_ (pronounced _laid_), a slope. The place is called in Gaelic _Leathad Udrigil_, or The slope of Udrigil.

_Lasan_ (larsan), a slight passion, wrath, anger.

_Leabaidh na Ba Bàine_ (lyeppy na papann), Bed of the white cow. _Leabaidh_, a bed; _ba_, possessive of _bo_, a cow; _bàine_, possessive of _ban_, white.

_Leabhar na Feinne_ (leeoar na fainyie), Book of the Fingalians.

_Leac nan Saighead_ (lake nen side), Flag or flat rock of the arrow. _Leac_, a flat rock, a flag; _saighead_, an arrow.

_Leacaidh_ (lyechy), Place of flags, or flat rocks.

_Leitir_ (laychter, letter), slope on a hill side, declivity.

_Leth chreag_ (laychrig), Half rock. _Leth_, half; _chreag_, possessive of _creag_, a rock. This name is applied to several rocky hills in Gairloch; it seems to imply that one-half of the rock has fallen away.

_Letterewe_ (letter ew), Slope of Ewe. See _Leitir_. This name is properly _Leitir Iu_.

_Leum an Doill_ (layum an toul), Blind man's leap.

_Lews_ (looze). From _Leogheas_ (leoas), _i.e._, the lands of Leod, the progenitor of the MacLeods of the Lews.

_Liathgach_ (leeroch), The light-blue mountain. _Liath_, light blue. This name should not have _Beinn_ before it.

_Loch_ (loch), a lake, an arm of the sea. _Lochan_, a small lake, a tarn.

_Loch a Bhaid Luachraich_ (loch a vat loocharar), Loch of the clump of rushes. _Bad_, a clump; _luachair_, rushes.

_Loch a Bheallaich_ (loch a veealoch), Loch of the pass. _Beallach_, a pass.

_Loch a Chroisg_ (loch ach roshk). Anglicé _Loch Rosque_. _Chroisg_, possessive of _Crosg_, name of a place. Meaning unknown; possibly connected with _Crasg_, which see. Another suggestion is that _Crosg_ may mean the Cross, and that the name was given by ecclesiastics who unquestionably lived here.

_Loch a Druing_ (loch a tring), Loch of Druing. _Druing_ is probably a Norse word. It occurs as _Druingag_ in _Tobar Druingag_, The well of Druingag, which is at the south end of Loch a Druing.

_Loch an Iasgair_ (loch an ee-esker), Loch of the fisherman. _Iasgair_, a fisherman; but in this case it refers to the nesting here of the osprey or fishing eagle.

_Loch Bad na Sgalaig_ (loch bat na skallak), Loch of the servant's grove. _Bad_, a grove (or clump); _sgalag_, a servant.

_Loch Bad na h' Achlais_ (loch pat 'n achlass), Loch of the grove of the hollow. _Achlais_, a hollow, the armpit.

_Loch Bharanaichd_ (loch varranocht), Loch of the barony. _Baranachd_, a barony.

_Loch Broom_ (loch broom). An English imitation of the Gaelic name, which is _Loch Bhraoin_ (loch vruin). _Braon_ means a light shower, drops of rain, drizzle.

_Loch Clair_, properly _Clar_ (loch clar). Means anything flat, as the head of a barrel, leaf of a table, the front or plain piece of a kilt. The stone tables of the law are called _clar_ in the Gaelic bible.

_Loch Coulin_ (loch koalin). Coulin (or Connlin) is from _Connlach_, a Fingalian hero, who was buried on a promontory in the loch. The site of his grave is still pointed out.

_Loch Fada_ (loch fatter), Long loch. _Fada_, long.

_Loch Fear_, _Feur_, _Feir_, or _Fiar_. See _Fear loch_.

_Loch Gharbhaig_ (loch garravaik), Loch of the Garavaig, which see.

_Loch Maree._ See _St Maelrubha_.

_Loch Mhic 'ille Rhiabhaich_ (loch vik illie reeoach), Loch of MacGille Riabhach, whom see.

_Loch na Beiste_ (loch na peyest), Loch of the beast. _Beist_, a beast, a brute.

_Loch na h' Oidhche_ (loch na hayich), Loch of night. _Oidhche_, night.

_Loch nan Dailthean_ (loch nan dullann), Loch of the meadows. _Dail_, a field, a meadow.

_Loch Rosque._ See _Loch a Chroisg_.

_Loch Torr na h' Eiginn_ (loch torr na haykin), Loch of the mound of violence. _Torr_, a mound; _eiginn_, violence.

_Lochan a' Neigh._ Should be _Lochan an Fheidh_, which see.

_Lochan an Fheidh_ (lochan a neay), Loch of the deer. _Fheidh_, possessive of _fiadh_, deer.

_Lochan Cul na Cathrach_ (lochan cool na karroch), Tarn of [or at] the back of the fairies' seat. _Cul_, back of; _cathrach_, possessive of _cathair_, a seat, a word usually applied to the fairies' seats.

_Lochan nan Airm_ (lochan nan arram), Loch of the arms. _Airm_, possessive of _aram_ (or _armachd_), arms.

_Lochan nan Breac_, or _Lochan nan Breac Adhair_ (lochanan brake aar), Lochan of the trout from the sky. _Adhar_, the sky. When trout are found in a loch without inlet or outlet, they are supposed to have fallen from the sky.

_Lochend_ (Dog Gaelic), End of the loch.

_Londubh_ (lonedhoo), Black bog. _Lon_, a bog; _dubh_, black.

_Longa_ (longer). Norse name; the termination _a_ is an old Norse suffix meaning an isle. _Long_ may be Norse equivalent to the English _long_, or it may possibly be the Gaelic _long_, a ship. In old maps it is called _Lunga_.

_Lonmor_ (lone more), Big bog. _Lon_ (lone), a bog; _mor_, big.

_Luibmhor_ (loopmore), Great bend [or loop]. _Luib_, a bend.

_Lungard_ (lungard). An old name; meaning unknown.

_Mac_ (mak), Son of. Possessive _mhic_ (vik), of the son of.

_Mac a Ghille Riabhaich_ (mak illie ree-oach), Son of Gille Riabhach. See _Gille Riabhach_.

_Mac Callum_ (makallum), Son of Malcolm.

_Mac Coinnich_ (mak kunnich), Son of Kenneth. _Mac_, son of; _Coinnich_, possessive of _Coinneach_, which see.

_Mac Ghille Challum_ (mak illie Challum), The son of the lad Malcolm. _Ghille_, possessive of _Gille_; _Challum_, possessive of _Callum_, Malcolm.

_Mac Gilleandreis_ (mak gilloundris), Son of the servant of [St] Andrew. _Gille_, a servant; _Aindrea_, or _Andreis_, Andrew.

_Mac Gillechriosd_ (mak gillie chree-est), Son of the servant of Christ. _Chriosd_, Christ. See _Gille_.

_Mac Iain Dhuibh_ (mak an ooie), Son of Black John. _Mac_, son of; _dhuibh_, possessive of _dubh_, black.

_MacLean_ (mak laine). In Gaelic this name is _Mac'ill'ean_, possibly for _Mac Ghille Iain_, meaning the son of the servant of John, or St John.

_MacLennan_ (maklennan). In Gaelic the name is _Mac a Leinnan_, from _leine_, a shirt, referring to the first MacLennan having been the armour bearer who carried his "shirt" of mail for Mackenzie, lord of Kintail.

_Mac Leod_ (makloud), the Son of Leod, progenitor of all the MacLeods.

_Mac Mhic Cordaigh_ (mak vik orday), Son of the son of Cordaigh.

_Mac Olamh Mhor_ (mak olar vor), Son of Olaf the Great. _Olaf_, a Norse name.

_Macdonald_, The son of Donald. It is not used in this form in Gaelic. The proper Gaelic equivalent is _Domhnullach_ (donnulloch); it also means, the son of Donald. _Mac Dhomhnuill_ is, however, frequently used.

_MacRae_ (mak ray), Son of fortune. _Mac_, son of; _rath_, fortune.

_Maighdean_ (maidchen), Maiden.

_Maighstir Sgoil_ (maishter skol), Schoolmaster. _Maighstir_, a master; _sgoil_, a school.

_Mali chruinn donn_ (mallie cruntown), Round brown Molly. _Mali_, Molly; _cruinn_, round; _donn_, brown.

_Maolmuire_ (melmur), Tonsured one of Mary. _Maol_, a cropped head; _muire_, the virgin [Mary].

_Marbhrann_ (marvran), an elegy. _Marbh_, dead; _rann_, verse.

_McKenzie_ or _Mackenzie_. Corrupted from _Mac Coinnich_, which see.

_Meall_ (meoul), a hill; literally a lump, usually applied to a lump of a hill. _Meallan_, a little hill.

_Meall a Deas_, (mella teyess), Hill of the south. _Deas_, south.

_Meall a Ghuibhais_ (meyoul a huish), Hill of the fir. _Guibhas_, a fir.

_Meall an Doire_ (meyoul an derry), Hill of the grove.

_Meall Aridh Mhic Craidh_ (meyoul arry vik creear), Hill of the shieling of Criadh. _Aridh_, a shieling; _Criadh_, name of a man, meaning unknown.

_Meall Aundrairidh_ (meyoul aurndrarey). Possibly meant for hill of Andrew, or of Andrew's shieling; if the latter, the termination would be from _aridh_, a shieling.

_Meall Lochan a Chleirich_ (meyoul lochan a chlearich), Hill of the loch of the priest. _Cleireach_, a clerk. The priests were sometimes called _cleireach_, from their scholarship.

_Meall na Cluibha_ (meyoul na clua), Hill of Clu (_Anglicè_ Cliff hill). _Clu_ may be connected with _cluain_, good pastures.

_Meall na Glaice Daraich_ (meyoul na glarker darroch), Hill of the oak dell. _Glac_, a dell; _darach_, oak.

_Meall nam Meallan_ (meyoul namellan), Hill of the hills. _Meallan_, plural of _Meall_, hills.

_Meall Mheannidh_, or _Meadhonach_, more correctly the latter (meyoul vahanny, or meyharnoch), The middle hill. _Meall_, hill; _meadhonach_, intermediate.

_Meallan Chuaich_ (mellan chuaich), Little hill of the cup, or quaich. Compare _quaff_.

_Meallan na Ghamhna_ (mellan a gowna), Stirk hill. _Meallan_, a little hill, _gamhainn_, a stirk.

_Meallan Thearlaich_ (mellan harelich), Little hill of Charles. _Tearlach_, Charles; _meallan_, diminutive of _meall_. _Anglicè_, Mellon Charles.

_Mellon Charles._ See _Meallan Thearlaich_.

_Mellon Udrigil_ (mellon oodrigil), Hill of Udrigil, which see.

_Melvaig_ (melvik). Probably Norse; or may be from _meal_ and _beag_, making _Mealbheag_ (meyoul vek), the little hill. In Gaelic it is spelt _Mealabhaig_, which favours the Norse origin. _Aig_, old Danish for a little bay. _Melvaig_ used to be spelt _Malefage_, _Mailfog_, _Melvag_.

_Midton_, for Middletown. An English word. See _Ballymeon_.

_Mioll._ Corruption of _Meall_.

_Moladh Mairi_ (molloch marrie), Praise of Mary. _Moladh_, praise; _Mairi_, Mary.

_Mor_ (more, or mohr), great, or big.

_Mor Ban_ (moore barn), Fair Sarah. _Mor_, Sarah; _ban_, white, fair.

_Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair_ (mulloch corrie vik erraquhar), Summit of the corrie of Farquhar's son. _Mulloch_, summit; _coire_, corrie; _Mhic_, of the son of; _Fhearchair_, possessive of Farquhar.

_Murchadh Mac Mhurchaidh_ (muroochuch mak muroochie), Murdo, son of Murdo. _Murchadh_, Murdo; possessive _Murchaidh_.

_Murchadh Riabhach na cuirce_ (muroochuch reeoach na kurke), Brindled Murdo of the bowieknife. _Murchadh_, Murdo; _riabhach_, brindled; _cuirce_, possessive of _corc_, a knife like a bowieknife (a knife that does not shut).

_Murdo Mc Conill varchue vic Conill vic Allister._ Old (almost phonetic) way of writing the Gaelic for "Murdo the son of Donald Murdo, the son of Donald, the son of Alastair." _Conill_ seems to represent _Dhomhnuill_ (the initial "c" belongs to the preceding word), and _varchue_ is for _Mhurchaidh_, the possessive cases respectively of _Domhnuill_ and _Murchadh_. _Vic_, of course, is for _Mhic_, of the son of.

_Naast_, or _Naust_ (narst). A Norse word. Fäste is Norse for a fortress; its Gaelic form with the article would be Näste. There is here a knowe by the sea called _Dun Naast_, apparently including the Gaelic _Dun_, a castle.

_Ob Choir' I_ (ope corree), Bay of the island of the corrie, or Island Corrie Bay. _Ob_, a bay; _choire_, possessive of _coire_, a corrie; _i_, old Gaelic for an island. Iona is still called "_I_" in Gaelic.

_Oban_ (open, or oben), a little bay.

_Og_ (ogue, pronounced as in rogue), young.

_Oighrig_ (eyrig). Woman's name; Euphemia is considered to be the English equivalent.

_Openham._ Corrupted from _Opinan_, which see.

_Opinan_ (opinen), Little bays. Corrupted from _Obanan_, plural of _Oban_, which see.

_Oran na Feannaige_ (oran na feounak), Song of the hoodie crow. _Oran_, song; _feannag_, a hoodie crow, _i.e._ the Royston or grey crow.

_Ormiscaig_ (ormscaik). A Norse name; its termination means a small bay. The word may include _Ormr_, Norse for a serpent. (See Rev. Isaac Taylor on Orme's Head.)

_Padruig Caogach_ (partrik kuogoch), Skew-eyed Peter. _Caogach_, skew-eyed; _Padruig_, Peter, or Patrick.

_Philabeg._ See _Feileadh Beag_. _Philabeg_ is a lowland form of the name of the kilt.

_Piobaire Ban_ (peepier ban), The fair piper. _Piobaire_, a piper; _ban_, fair, white.

_Piobaire Dall_ (peepi-er toul), Blind piper. _Piobaire_, a piper; _dall_, blind.

_Piobaireachd_ (peebyrocht), Pipe music. Usually applied to a set piece in the form now commonly called a pibroch.

_Ploc_ (plok), a round mass.

_Ploc_ (plok) of Torridon. See _Ploc_.

_Ploc-ard_ (plokart), Height of the round mass. See _Ploc_ and _Aird_.

_Poll a Chuillin_ (poll a choolin), Pool of the hollies. _Poll_, a pool; _cuilionn_, hollies.

_Poolewe_ (pool-ew). This name means the pool of the Ewe; in Gaelic it is _Poll-iu_. _Poll_, a pool; _iu_, ewe.

_Port Henderson._ A modern name. The colloquial Gaelic name of the place is _Portigill_ (porstigil). May be from _Port a geal_, the white port.

_Port na h' Eille_ (port na hail), Port of the thong. _Iall_, a thong, a leather strap; possessive _eille_.

_Port na Heile_ (port na hail). See _Port na h' Eille_.

_Pronadh na Mial_ (prone-a na meoul), Crushing the louse. _Pronadh_, crushing; _mial_, louse.

_Raasay_, properly _Rasaidh_ (raaser). Norse name. May perhaps include _rath_, an obsolete word for a round fort.

_Rathad Mor_ (rart more), High (great) road. _Rathad_, road; _mor_, great.

_Regoilachy_ (regoalachie). From _fhrith_ (_ree_), a forest, and _gobhlach_, forked. The termination is probably for euphony, but may represent _achadh_, a field.

_Rob Donn_ (rob doun), Brown or dun Robert; the soubriquet of the great Reay bard. _Rob_, Robert; _donn_, brown, or dun.

_Rob Roy_, for _Rob Ruadh_ (rob rooer), Red Robert.

_Rona_ (rowna). Norse; probably seal island. _Ron_ is Gaelic for a seal; _a_ is a Norse suffix meaning an island.

_Roy._ See _Ruadh_.

_Ru_, or _Rudha_ (roo, or rooah), a point, a promontory.

_Ru Nohar._ Should be _Rudha 'n Fhomhair_, which see.

_Ruadh_ (ru-er, or rooag), red, or auburn. Anglicé, _roy_.

_Ruadh Stac_ (rooer stak), Red stack, or steep rock. _Stac_, a steep rock.

_Ruaridh an Torra_ (roo-arie-an-tor), Rorie of the tor, or round smooth hill.

_Ruaridh Breac_ (roo-arie brake), Spotted (or pock-pitted) Rorie, or Roderick. See _Breac_.

_Ruaridh Ceard_ (roo-arie kard), Rorie the tinker. _Ceard_, a tinker.

_Ruaridh Donn_ (roo-arie doun), Brown or dun Rorie.

_Ruaridh Mac Allan M'Leod_ (roo-arie mak allan mak loud), Rorie, son of Allan M'Leod.

_Rudha aird an anail_ (roo-arten annall), High point of breathing. _Anail_, breathing; _aird_, high.

_Rudha Chailleach_ (roo chyleoch), Point of the old woman. _Rudha_, a point; _cailleach_, an old woman.

_Rudha Mac Gille Aindreas_ (roo mak ill andres), Point of the servant of [St] Andrew. See _Mac Gilleandreis_.

_Rudha mhadaidh ruaidh_ (roo vatter roo-ie), Fox point, or point of the red dog. _Rudha_, a point; _madadh_, a dog; _ruadh_, red.

_Rudha 'n Fhomhair_, or _Fhamhair_ (roo noher), The point of the giant. _Fomhair_, a giant.

_Rudha na Cloiche uaine_ (roo na clor-choo-ownyer), Greenstone point. _Cloiche_, possessive of _clach_, a stone; _uaine_, green.

_Rudha Reidh_ (roo ray), Smooth point or headland. _Rudha_, a point; _reidh_, level. The name is very descriptive of the appearance of the headland as seen from the sea.

_Runrig._ A south Scotch or English word. In Gaelic it is called _Mag maseach_ (mark mer sharch). _Mag_, a rig; _maseach_, alternate.

_Ruymakilvandrich._ See _Rudha Mac Ghille Aindreas_.

_Sabhal Geal_ (sowl gayal), White barn. See separate words.

_Sail Mor_ (sal more, or sowl more), The great heel. _Sail_, a heel. Descriptive of the shape of this spur of _Beinn Eighe_.

_Saint Maelrubha_ (saint malruie). Maree is a corruption from this saint's name.

_Sand_ (sand, or saunda). Name of a place by a sandy beach; evidently Norse. The full name of the place called Big Sand is _Sanda a chorran_, meaning "the sand of the shingly spit."

_Sasunnach_ (sarsenach), Saxon, English, not a Gaelic speaker. _Sasunnach mor_, the big Englishman.

_Scardroy._ See _Sgaird ruadh_.

_Scuir_, or _Sgorr_ (skoor), a peak or cliff.

_Scuir a Laocainn_ (scoor a lyooakin), Peak of the calf's skin. _Laodh_, a calf; _gin_, abbreviation for _craiceann_ (crakin), a skin.

_Scuir a Mhuilin_ (skoor a voollin), Peak of the mill. _Mhuilin_, possessive of _muileann_, a mill.

_Scuir na Feart_ (scoor na hairsht). Name of a peak; meaning unknown.

_Seann Rudha_ (shoun roo), Old promontory. _Seann_, old; _rudha_, promontory.

_Seann Seoc_ (shoun shok), Old Jock. _Seann_, old; _seoc_, Jock or Jack.

_Seann Tighearna_ (shoun tcheerna), Old laird. _Seann_, old; _tighearna_, laird, proprietor.

_Seannachaidh_ (shennachie), Reciter of old tales, recorder, remembrancer.

_Seonaid Chrubach_ (shounat chruboch), Lame Jessie. _Seonaid_, Jessie; _crubach_, lame.

_Sgaird ruadh_ (scart rooer), Red scree. _Sgaird_, a scree, shingly slope.

_Sgalag_ (skallak), a servant, farm servant.

_Sgeir_, or _Skeir_ (skeer), a rock surrounded by the sea.

_Sgeir a Bhuic_ (skeir a vook), Island rock of the buck. From _sgeir_, a rock surrounded by the sea, and _bhuic_, possessive of _boc_, a buck.

_Sgeir an Fharaig_ (skeir an harrik), Island rock of the surf. From _fairge_, surf, sea.

_Sgeir Bhoora_ (skeir voora), Island rock of Boor. From _sgeir_, a rock surrounded by the sea, and _Bhoora_, possessive of _Boor_.

_Sgorr_, or _Sgurr_ (skor, or skoor), a peak. It is often written here as elsewhere _Scuir_, but the former words are more correct.

_Sgorr Dubh_ (scorr dhoo), Black peak.

_Sgurr Ban_ (skoor barn), White peak. _Sgurr_, a peak; _ban_, white.

_Shieldaig_ (shieldak). Probably a Norse name; meaning unknown. _Aig_ is an old Danish suffix meaning a small bay. _Shieldaig_ was formerly spelt _Syldage_, _Sildag_, and _Shilkag_.

_Sian_, or _Seun_ (shee-un), a spell, charm, incantation.

_Siol Mhic Ghille Challum_ (sheeol vik illie challum), Seed of Mac Gille Challum, whom see.

_Siol Tormod_ (sheeol tormot), Seed of Tormod.

_Siol Torquil_ (sheeol torquil), Seed of Torquil.

_Sitheanan Dubha_ (sheean-an dhooar), Black knowes, fairies' hills. _Sithean_, a knowe; _dubh_, black.

_Skar_ (scar), a screen. Obsolete.

_Slaggan_, properly _Slagan_ (slagan). Diminutive of slag, or lag, a hollow. This place is for identification called in Gaelic _An slagan odhar_ (an slagan our), or The little dun hollow.

_Slatadale_ (slay ter dle). Norse; or it might possibly be connected with _slaitan_, fishing rods. In the old map of 1662 it is spelt _Slotadull_.

_Slioch_, or _Sleugach_ (slee-och), resembling a spear. _Sleagh_, a spear. The mountain from some points of view is like a broad spear head. The name should not have _Beinn_ before it.

_Slogan_ (sloggan), a war cry. Obsolete now.

_Smiorsair_ (smearesar). Name of a hamlet; probably from _smior_, the marrow, the best; _aridh_, a shieling.

_Spidean Moirich_ (speetan moi-or-ich), Peak of Martha. _Spidean_, a peak; _Moirich_, possessive of _Moireach_, Martha.

_Sporan_ (sporran), a purse.

_Srondubh_ (strondhoo), Black nose or promontory. _Sron_ (stron), a nose or promontory.

_Sron a Choite_ (strunyer hote), Nose (or promontory) of the coble. _Sron_ (stron), a nose or promontory; _choite_, possessive of _coite_, a coble.

_Stac Buidhe_ (stack boo-ie), Yellow stack, _i.e._ steep rock. _Stac_, a stack, _buidhe_, yellow.

_Stank house._ An English name; but _stank_ is from the Gaelic _staing_, a ditch.

_Steall a Mhunidh_ (shteyole a vonie), Splash of the Pisvache. A fine waterfall, resembling the _Pisvache_ of European celebrity.

_Strath_, properly _Srath_ (strah), a broad valley.

_Strath Chromple_ (strath roumpil), Valley of the curved opening. _Crom_, curved; _beul_, mouth or opening.

_Suarachan_ (shore-achen). Soubriquet of Big Duncan of the Axe, being the diminutive of _Suarach_, insignificant; referring to his not having been thought worthy of being armed for the battle of Park.

_Suidheachan Fhinn_ (seeachan een), Fingal's seat. _Suidheachan_, a turf seat; _Fhinn_, possessive of _Fionn_, Fingal.

_Tagan_ (tahkan). Possibly Norse; may be from _tathaich_, a resort.

_Talladale_ (tallardle). Probably Norse; may be from _talla_, a hall, and the Norse _dahl_ or _dal_. In old documents it is spelt _Alydyll_, _Allawdill_, and _Telledill_. The two former spellings suggest that the name was formerly spelt with "th," pronounced as a soft aspirate.

_Thorisdal_, Dale of the Norse god Thor. See _Eilean Horisdale_.

_Tigh Dige_ (ty dgeegie), House of the ditch. _Tigh_, a house; _dig_, a ditch.

_Tigh mo Sheanair_ (ty mer henner), House of my grandfather. _Tigh_, a house; _mo_, my; _sheanair_, possessive of _seanair_, grandfather.

_Tighearna Crubach_ (tcheerna krupboch), Lame laird.

_Tighearna Ruadh_ (tcheerna roer), Red or auburn-haired laird or proprietor. _Tighearna_, laird; _ruadh_, red.

_Tighearna Storach_ (tcheerna storroch), Buck-toothed laird.

_Tighnafaolinn_ (ty na fualin). The sea-mews' home. _Tigh_, a house, home; _faoileann_, a sea-gull.

_Tobar Mhoire_ (toppervorie) Well of the Virgin Mary, or of Mourie. _Tobar_, a well; _Mhoire_, possessive of _Moire_, Mary.

_Tobar nan ceann_ (topper nan keyoun), Fountain or well of the heads. _Tobar_, a fountain, a well; _ceann_, a head.

_Tollie_, properly _Tollidh_ (tolly), diminutive of _Toll_, a hole. All the _Tollies_ are in hollows. _Idh_ is a rare diminutive, but is sometimes used even in the present day.

_Torasgian._ See _Tor-sgian_.

_Torr_ (torr), a mound or lump; generally applied to a round hill. The name is common in Gairloch and the neighbourhood, and seems specially applicable to the hummocks or domes of gneiss, noted as so frequent in this locality by Professor Geikie. The name _Cnoc_ (krock), a knoll, has a somewhat similar meaning.

_Torran nan Eun_ (torranan eeon), Mounds of the birds. _Torran_, mounds; _eun_, a bird.

_Torran nan tighearnan_ (torran nan tchee-ernan), Mounds of the chieftains. _Torr_, a mound; _tighearn_, a chief, literally superior of land.

_Torridon_ (torriden). Old name; perhaps Norse. Can it possibly be connected with _torran_, mounds, or lumps, which would be very descriptive? It is spelt _Torvedene_ in the Sheriff's protocol of 1494.

_Tor-sgian_ (toroshkin), peat cutter. _Tor_, a lump; _sgian_, a knife.

_Tournaig_, Gallice _Turnaig_ (toornak). A Norse name. The suffix _aig_ means a small bay in old Danish.

_Truibhais_ (trewish), trews, a sort of trousers.

_Tulachan_ (toolachen), a sham calf. Compare Gaelic _tulg_, to rock, or toss. The sham calf was moved to and fro to make the cow think it was sucking.

_Tulchan._ See _Tulachan_.

_Tulloch Ard_ (tullochart), High knoll. _Tulloch_ from _tulach_, a knoll; _ard_, high.

_Uamh_ (oo-av), a cave.

_Uamh a' Mhail_ (oo-av a varl), Cave of rent or tribute. _Mhail_, possessive of _Mal_, rent or tribute.

_Uamh nam Freiceadain_ (ooie nam rekatan), Cave of the guard. _Freiceadan_, a guard, watching.

_Uamh an Oir_ (ooav an or), Cave of gold. _Oir_, possessive of _or_, gold.

_Uamh gu do roghiann_ (ooie gat der ooun), Cave for your choice. _Gu_, to, or for; _do_, your; _roghiann_, choice.

_Uamh Mhic 'ille Rhiabhaich_ (ooie vick illie reeoach), The cave of the son of the brindled gillie or lad. _Mhic_ (vik), possessive of _Mac_, son of; _'ille_, for _ghille_, possessive of _gille_. See _Mac Gille Riabhaich_.

_Udrigil_ (oodrigil). Probably a Norse name; meaning unknown.

_Ullapool_ (oo-la-pull). An old name; probably from _uile_, all, and _poll_, a pool; signifying that it is a pool large enough for all.

_Uistean_ (ooshtan). A Gaelic Christian name; Hugh is considered the English equivalent.

_Vic._ Popular spelling of _Mhic_, the possessive of _Mac_, son of. There is no _v_ or _w_ in Gaelic.

INTRODUCTION.

Rathad mor a Ceann-loch-iu, Rathad ur a Ghearloch; Gabhaidh sinn an rathad mor Olc na math le cach e.--_Gaelic Song._

The high road to Kenlochewe, The new road to Gairloch; Storm or sunshine, take with me The high road to Gairloch.--_Free rendering._

Gairloch is a typical Highland parish on the west coast of Ross-shire. Its length, from Loch Rosque to Rudha Reidh, is thirty miles, and its width is fifteen miles, so that it is one of the most extensive parishes in Great Britain.

The name "Gairloch" is composed of two Gaelic words, _gearr_ and _loch_. _Gearr_ means "short"; and the sea-loch which gives its name to the parish is appropriately called short, as compared with Loch Broom, Loch Ewe, and other more deeply indented arms of the sea. The native spelling and pronunciation of the name prove the derivation beyond all question.

There is a curious muddle in the old and new Statistical Accounts about the origin of the name Gairloch. In the former (Appendix C) it is said to have been taken from "a very small loch near the church and the house of Flowerdale, and so close by the shore that the sea at high tides covers it." In the New Statistical Account (Appendix E) "a hollow spot of ground" is spoken of as "the Gairloch," and the writer states that the natives allege that the parish takes its name from it. The explanation is supplied by the story of Hector Roy and the three M'Leods given in Part I., chap. ix. The place referred to as "a very small loch" and "a hollow spot of ground," is now represented by a well, still called "the Gairloch" from the reason given in that story, but it did not originate the name of the parish.

* * * * *

The name Gairloch is used in four different senses both in the following pages and among the inhabitants. It means,--

1. The sea-loch or bay of Gairloch.

2. The whole parish.

3. The place at the head of the sea-loch where the hotel, &c., stand, more properly called Achdistall.

4. The original estate of the Mackenzie lairds of Gairloch.

These various meanings are a little confusing, but the context generally makes clear what is intended.

* * * * *

Considerations of health, followed by growing appreciation of the charms of Gairloch, have caused me to make my Highland home in this out-of-the-world parish. Its romantic scenery and health-giving climate are its most obvious attractions; but add to these its wonderful legends and traditions, the eventful history of its dominant family, the story of its old ironworks, the interesting peculiarities of its Highland inhabitants, the distinction conferred upon it by the visit of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the great geological controversy about its rocks, the sport its waters afford to the angler, the varied subjects it displays to the artist, and the pregnant fields of research it yields to the scientist, and you have a list of allurements it would be difficult to beat elsewhere. Though its boundary line extends to within five miles of the railway, Gairloch still preserves many of the characteristics of old days, and these not only possess a peculiar fascination for most people, but are also well fitted to arouse and nourish a spirit of investigation.

* * * * *

The famous Loch Maree (with the small but romantic islet known as Isle Maree) is surrounded by the finest scenery in the parish. Their attractions bring annually some three thousand visitors to Gairloch. One might have fancied that such an influx of people would have led to the accumulation of a large and increasing stock of knowledge of this Highland parish, but as a rule the visitors are here to-day and gone to-morrow, and take no thorough interest in the country or its inhabitants.

Some years ago I happened to travel by the railway from Inverness to Achnasheen in the company of a pleasant party, comprising a gentleman and three ladies, who were making a tour in the Highlands. They boasted that, though their time had been limited to a very few days, they would have seen the greater part of the Highlands before they returned home. On the day I fell in with them their object was to see Loch Maree. To accomplish this they had arranged by telegraph for a carriage and pair to await the arrival of the train at Achnasheen. The day proved wet and misty, and I saw them leave the railway station in a close carriage. I followed soon after on the mail-car. A short delay took place at Kenlochewe whilst the horses were changed. There I found my fellow-travellers enjoying their lunch in the hotel. They told me that although the day was too wet for them to drive down to the shore of the loch, and too misty to admit of its being fully seen from a distance, yet they were quite able to say that they had seen Loch Maree, for at one point they had put their heads out of the windows of their carriage during a brief cessation of the rain and had distinctly seen the water of the loch! They were returning to Achnasheen as soon as they had swallowed their lunch, to catch the train back to Inverness the same afternoon.

These tourists, who thus professed to have "seen Loch Maree," were a fair type of too many of those who rush through Gairloch, as if their sole object were to cover the most ground in the shortest possible time, and who thus fail to obtain any true perception of the belongings of the country, even of the scenery.

There are first-rate hotels within the parish, and lodgings may frequently be hired, or a furnished house taken. The hotels offer the inducement of lower terms to those whose visits exceed the usually brief period.

Impressions of scenery are fixed by repetition; insight into nature is deepened by observation; and knowledge of a country is vastly more valuable if it include some acquaintance with the population, their characters, condition, and means of livelihood. Too many visitors overlook their opportunities in these directions.

Some remarks are necessary with regard to the traditions of Gairloch, contained mostly in Part I. In recent times there has been a tendency to discredit all such traditions, and to treat them as symbolic or didactic legends, or as localisations (with extra colouring) of myths common to the heroic period of every country. The principal features of one or two of the Gairloch traditions are certainly to be found in stories of other parts of the Highlands, and occasionally, but rarely, a resemblance may even be traced to the plot of some ancient European myth. On the other hand, it is to be noted that the Highland bards, down to the present time, have regularly transmitted their stories in precisely the same language from one trained memory to another, so that even the very words put into the mouths of the _dramatis personæ_ have been insisted upon in every transmission. Another point to be noticed is, that except in two instances the Gairloch traditions do not date further back than four centuries. In the older legends referred to, visible evidences, such as the tombstones in Isle Maree and the cave at Ardlair, may perhaps be considered confirmatory. For my own part, I am disposed to accept all the traditions as generally worthy of credence. Much interest in the locality is gained by doing this, and certainly nothing is lost!

A difficulty the visitor to Gairloch always experiences is due to the Gaelic names. The Glossary should help to overcome this obstacle. Not only does it include the meanings of the Gaelic words, but it attempts to indicate their pronunciations. I am bound to warn the reader that the pronunciations stated are only approximate. There are sounds in the Gaelic language which cannot be expressed by English tongues or to English ears by any combinations of letters. Yet most of the pronunciations stated are sufficiently near the truth to answer ordinary purposes. I recommend the reader to refer to the Glossary at the occurrence of each Gaelic name in the book, and those names and their import will soon become familiar. The Gaelic sound of _ch_ is about the same as that of the German _ch_; it does not occur in the English language, but unless you can master it there is no use in your trying to speak even the two leading names in this parish,--viz., Gairloch, and Loch Maree. Whatever you do, pray avoid pronouncing _loch_ as if it were _lock_. This is the most egregious error made by many southerners in trying to speak the commonest Highland names.

In communicating to the public the information about Gairloch contained in the following pages, I claim the right to offer a word or two of counsel and entreaty.

I would submit that it is unfair, as well as discourteous, to interfere with the rights of those who take deer forests or rent sheep farms. Rambles on upland moors and mountain ascents are almost certain to injure the sport or privileges of others. I am aware there is a strong feeling that every one ought to have access to mountains. Whether this be legalised by Parliament or not, I would appeal to the visitor here to refrain from the illiberality and discourtesy of spoiling other people's hardly-earned and well-paid-for privileges. There is plenty of room for all. Why should unpleasant feelings be stirred up, and tourists as a class be blamed for the intolerance of a few? All the mountains and hills of Gairloch are haunts of the red deer or feeding-grounds of sheep, and no ascents ought to be undertaken unless by due arrangement, which cannot be expected in the deer-stalking season, and which, when obtainable, should be made with the head-keeper of the ground.

There are some drawbacks to mountain ascents that may help the visitor more willingly to forego them. How often the view from a summit is entirely blotted out by clouds or mist, or marred by the distance being lost in haze! How often the fine morning that induced the expedition is followed by a stormy afternoon! To these must be added the frequent injury to health caused by the unusual strain on the systems of persons unaccustomed to mountaineering, and the possible risk of being lost in mist. It is hoped that tourists will be content with the shorter climbs recommended in Part IV. Artists tell us that landscapes seen from lower elevations are more thoroughly picturesque than the bird's-eye views from mountain tops.

Again, I entreat botanists and others looking for wild flowers and plants to abstain from rooting up the rare or beautiful things they may find, and from trespassing in places where their presence is obviously not required. The mania for removing every fragment of an uncommon plant has grown much of late years,--witness the extermination of the edelweiss from some of its best known habitats on the Swiss Alps. Who does not remember places whence our own rare holly-fern has within the past few years been eradicated? A few years ago that comparatively scarce fern the sea-spleenwort (_asplenium marinum_) was abundant within three hundred yards of the Gairloch Hotel; now it is unknown there. A gentleman fond of botany planted some uncommon ferns not natives of Ross-shire in a wood in Gairloch parish; they were soon discovered by tourists staying at a neighbouring hotel, who ruthlessly removed the whole. Instances of this kind have brought the British tourist into disrepute in many parts of the world.

It is in the spirit of these remarks that I beg to introduce the reader to the charms of Gairloch and Loch Maree.